Strike by French airline pilots this Thursday, November 14: why and what consequences for passengers?

The French sky darkens. The National Union of airline pilots (SNPL) has indeed launched a call for strike for this Thursday November 14 in order to show its opposition to the government amendment taken on November 8. The latter plans to take an additional billion euros per year in the air sector, increasing significantly the solidarity tax on plane tickets. This increase must concern all passengers departing from mainland France.

A gathering called by several unions* is also scheduled before the National Assembly tomorrow from 11 a.m. They believe that this measure will have a negative impact on the competitiveness of French airlines and will only serve to cover part of the public deficit. “The proceeds of this tax are not intended to finance the environmental transition of the sector,” protests Antoine Godier, one of the spokespersons for the SNPL, “the government must hear our arguments.”

11,500 jobs threatened in France

The entry into force of this new tax system is planned for 1^is January 2025 for a period of one year. L’Overseas and Corsica would be exempt. For Benjamin Smith, the general director of Air France-KLM, this proves that the deputies recognize the risks of such a measure for “the competitiveness of French companies“. Because the whole issue is there… With this increase in the solidarity tax, these are in fact the French companiesAir France and Transavia in the lead, which should be the most impacted since they operate a very large number of flights from France.

The general rapporteur of the finance committee, Charles de Courson (LIOT), also pointed out the risque of this device “which can put French air transport in difficultybecause the marges in the sector are mainly done on business class and long distance flightsvery impacted in the government's project”. The National Federation of Aviation and its Trades (FNAM) and the Union of French Airports (UAF) believe that this additional imposition “could lead to the destruction of 11,500 jobs in France in 2025.” The two organizations also judge that this measure could prove counterproductive… According to FNAM analyses, this increase in taxation could in fact lead to “a traffic decrease in 2025 of 2% on average over the entire territory” which would induce “a loss of tax revenue of more than €500 million for the state.”

Also read:
Plane tickets: the solidarity tax multiplied by three? Why French companies risk dropping out

What disruptions can be expected?

The national strike of pilots planned for this November 14 should have limited repercussions on air traffic in France. Mobilization should in fact be low within French companies which operate routes mainly between France and Overseas or Corsica (Air Corsica, Corsair, Air Austral, Air Caraibes, etc.) because these lines are not affected by the increase in tax.

On the side of Air France and Transavia, retards or flight schedule changes are possible even if the two companies want to be reassuring… “Air France plans toensure its entire flight program and to transport all of its customers booked on this day.” Transavia France plans, for its part, to operate 98% of its flights.

If the perturbations linked to this strike movement should therefore be limitedthe main thing is elsewhere for the union which represents 75% of pilots in France. “We are not in conflict with our employer,” recalls the SNPL spokesperson, “we are leading a fight against the government.” The standoff is underway.